Jonas Folger faces a very special challenge this weekend. Together with the German Racing Team Freudenberg from the free state of Saxony, he will be putting the KTM RC 990 R through its paces under race conditions to take another step toward developing the Austrian manufacturer’s Supersport bike to a true race machine.
Jonas Folger, 32, who works full-time as a development rider for KTM, and the Bischofswerda-based team led by Michael and Casten Freudenberg have already completed several tests as part of this project. The goal is to further develop the KTM RC 990 R into a ready-to-race bike for the new generation Supersport category.
This weekend’s round three of the «EURO MOTO» season — formerly known as International German Motorcycle Championship — at the Autodrom Most in the northwest of the neighbouring Czech Republic is likely to provide ideal settings for the next step in this still-young project.
However, KTM, Racing Team Freudenberg, and Folger himself are aware that this is a test under race conditions. Therefore, no expectations are being set, especially since the engine specifications have been adapted to the regulations that will take effect next year.
Folger and the Freudenberg team will compete in Most with a wild card in the series’ highly competitive Supersport class.
#94 Jonas FOLGER (Racing Team Freudenberg, KTM RC 990 R)
«First of all, I’d like to thank everyone involved who made it possible for us to participate in our first race weekend with this still-new project. Our start in Most this weekend came together at the very last minute. But I’m really looking forward to it and am already very excited. Our top priority, however, is to test under race conditions. The results are definitely secondary; we just want to complete a rigorous agenda. A race weekend with longer sessions and competitive riders on track should be well-suited for that. Still, it would be nice if we could do well or even pull off a little surprise.»
«At this point, however, it’s worth mentioning that we’ll be competing with next year’s spec. That means we’ll have less engine power than the rest of the grid. So, it won’t be easy. Our main focus is on testing chassis components and settings, and we also still have a few items on our to-do list regarding the bike’s ergonomics. Even though our chances of keeping up with the others are slim, I’m really looking forward to this weekend, because it’s the first time we’re competing as a team with this bike. A race weekend is always different from a test. The tension alone makes all the difference. For my part, I’ll do everything I can to make sure it’s a great weekend in Most.»
Jonas FOLGER’s Profil:
Age: 32 (born on 13 August 1993)
Occupation: Developement rider
Residence: Mühldorf am Inn (Upper Bavaria, Germany)
Height: 180 cm
Weigth: 72 kg
Bike: KTM RC 990 R
Racing Number: #94
Time Schedule Euro Moto Supersport Most:
Friday 26 June: FP1 11:25 – 11:50
Friday 26 June: FP2 15:10 – 15:35
Saturday 27 June: Q1 09:30 – 09:55
Saturday 27 June: Q2 12:55 – 13:20
Saturday 27 June: Race 1 16:45 (14 Laps – 58.968 km)
Sunday 28 June: Warm-up 09:30 – 09:40
Sunday 28 June: Race 2 13:50 (14 Laps – 58.968 km)
